Railway hopper car closure locking mechanism



Feb. 18, 1964 J. T. SMITH 3,121,403

RAILWAY HOPPER CAR CLOSURE LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 17, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

gjw MM Feb. 18, 1964 J. T. SMITH RAILWAY HOPPER CAR CLOSURE LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 17, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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Feb. 18, 1964 J. 1'. SMITH RAILWAY HOPPER CAR CLOSURE LOCKING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 17, 1958 X/a/med. 75292224 KJM rates atent hie 3,121,4li3 RAILWAY HGPPER CAR ULUSURE LUQKING MECHANlSB l James T. Smith, Chicago, ill, assignor to day Sheesley, Winnetlra, ill. Filed Nov. 17, 1953, Ser- No. 774,383 6 Claims. (Cl. 105-253) This invention relates to locking mechanisms for railway car hopper doors and more particularly to an inn proved mechanism of the type disclosed by US. Letters Patent No. 2,482,516, wherein a latch is urged by an eccentric of an actuator toward and away from locked position, the latch being biased by a counterweight to latching position and being engageable with means on the actuator for movement to open and locked position.

Such prior art devices have been expensive to manufacture, difficult to assemble, and susceptible to sticking by accumulation of dust and dirt in the bearings of rotatable parts.

Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is to prevent sticking of the device by providing lost-motion connections between the rotatable parts.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate and simplify assembly of the device by connecting the various parts in such manner that relative movement therebetween is permitted within limits necessary to interlocking of the parts against improper action by excessive relative motion.

Still another object of the invention is to afford maximum reversibility of the parts for right and left hand application, whereas in prior art devices of this type duplicate patterns were required for most parts.

Yet anoti er object of the invention is to accommodate replacement or repair of a worn part without the he cessity of scraping the entire device.

Still another object of the invention is to devise a device such as above described wherein all of the parts, including the bearings, can be applied to and removed from a hopper car as a unit without the necessity of disturbing the normal operating relationship between the parts.

Yet another object of the invention is to afford increased mechanical advantage by providing a longer lever arm through which the latch is operated by the actuator when the latch is actuated to locked and release position thereof.

A further object of the invention is to simplify the construction of the latch and actuaotr by arranging the lever arm of the actuator to engage the latch along the same areas in right and left hand applications.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the hopper door locked;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical, sectional view showing the door in partly open latched position;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the hopper with the door removed;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the outer end of the locking mechanism;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the hopper door;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section, of the novel locking mechanism;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view on line 77 of FIG- URE 3 with the door added, showing the latch fully released and the door in fully open position;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view comparable to FIG- URE 7, with the latch held in position by its counterweight to reengage the door as it moves toward closed position; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the latch and actuator.

Describing the invention in detail and referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the novel locking mechanism comprises a latch 2 having front or first and rear or second arms 4 and 6, the front arm having a hook or lug 8 with a rearwardly facing surface engageable with 21 depending lug id of a latch block or keeper 12 attached in any desired manner as by rivets 14 and welding (not shown) to a hopper door 16 pivoted at its upper edge to a conventional railway car hopper 18 having a bottom wall or sheet 29 sloping downwardly to the doorway or dump opening 22 at the bottom of the hopper 18.

The latch 2 comprises a hearing or opening 26 within which is slideably and rotatably mounted an eccentric 28 of an actuator or locking element 3t? having a cylindrical bearing 32 at one end thereof rotatably journalled in a bearing opening 34 of a bracket 36. The bracket 35 is attached as by a rivet 38 to the sheet 20 and as by a rivet 463 to a flange 42 depending from a bar 43 attached in any desired manner as by welding (not shown) to the hopper E3.

The opposite end of the actuator 3h comprises a socket 4 i- (FIGURE 2) which is polygonal in cross-section and comproses, in the illustrated embodiment, four sides defining a square. A bar as complementary in cross-section to the socket 44 is slideably fitted therein with just enough clearance to accommodate slight relative rotational, axial, and angling movement between the bar 46 and actuator Bil, for purposes hereinafter described.

The opposite end of the bar is slideably fitted in a similar socket 48 (FIGURE 6) with similar clearance as above described in connection with socket 44. The socket 48 is formed in the inner end of a handle connector 5% comprising a bearing portion 52 rotatably journalled in a bearing opening of a bearing bracket 54 attached as by rivets 56 to the sheet 2%) of the hopper 18.

The outer end of the connector 5t) comprises a trans verse aperture or socket 51 for convenient actuation thereof by the conventional bar carried by a trainman, which bar is inserted into the socket 5i; and manipulated to rotate the connector.

A lock-to-the-iock member 55 is pivoted by its trunnion 5'7 on the inner side thereof to tie bracket 54, and is rcleasably engageable with connector 5% the innermost end of the trunnion being headed as at 59. The outboard side of the member 55' is provided with a handle 53 for convenient manual actuation and release of the member 55 as hereinafter described.

In operating the novel mechanism, assuming that it is in the fully locked position of FIGURE 1, the lock-tothe-lock member 55 is rotated to its release position, shown by phantom lines in FIGURE 1. The actuator 33 is then rotated in a clockwise direction, as seen in that figure, until the eccentric 28 urges the latch 2 to its extreme forward position whereat the door 16 is partially open with the latch lug h and the keeper l2 interengaged to latch the door (FIGURE 2). Continned clockwise rotation of the actuator 30 causes a lug so on a lever arm 62 of the actuator to engage an abutment at on the front arm 4 of the latch 2 rotating it in a clockwise direction until the latch lug 8 and the keeper 12 are disengaged, as seen in FIGURE 7, permitting the door 16 to swing to fully open position.

Release of the handle (not shown), which the operator inserts in socket 51 to effect the foregoing movements of the actuator 36 and latch 2, permits a counterweight 64 on the rear arm 6 of the latch to effect counter clockwise movement thereof, until the latch lug 3 is again in position (FIGURE 8) to engage the keeper i2 and again latch the door 16 in a partly closed position whenever the operator moves the door toward its closed position as, for example, by pushing or kicking the door.

With the door again latched in partly closed position the latch lug 8 engages the keeper E2, the operator rotates the actuator Sit in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown in FIGURE 1 engaging the lug 60 against an abutment 66 on the rear arm 6 whereat the door is locked in fully closed position thereof, whereupon the operator moves the lock-to-the-lock member 55 to its locked position, shown by solid lines in PEG- URE 1, thereby preventing accidental unlocking of the novel mechanism.

In prior art devices of this type, it has been found that proper functioning of the counterweight is frequently prevented by sticking of the rotating parts in their bearings due to accumulation of dust and dirt therein, and it has been found, according to the invention, that the lost-motion connections of the bar 46 to the members 30 and 50 due to the loose fit of the bar 46 in sockets 44 and 43 prevents such sticking and ensures proper action of the counterweight 654. This lost-motion feature also minimizes sticking of the rotating parts due to slight misalignment of the bearing brackets 36 and 54 and the collection of dust and dirt therein, so that the novel mechanism can be easily operated in railway service with a minimum amount of effort by the operator.

Another important feature of the invention is the mechanical advantage afforded by the lever arm 62, as distinguished from prior art arrangements in which a lug on the eccentric is received within a slot in a hub of the latch for engagement therewith at points close to the rotational axis thereof.

It may also be noted that in prior art arrangements, the parts were not reversible as in the novel mechanism embodying the present invention, so that duplicate patterns were required for most parts in order to produce right and left hand locking mechanisms. According to the invention, however, maximum reversibility of parts is achieved, resulting in economy of production and diminution of inventory.

Still another advantage of the invention resides in the novel arrangement whereby the entire locking mechanism, including the bearing brackets 36 and 54, can be applied to and removed from the railway car as a unit, thus simplifying assembly and repair of the mechanism.

While the present invention has been explained and described with reference to specific embodiments of structure, it will be understood, nevertheless, that numerous modifications and variations are susceptible of being incorpo-rated without departure from the essential spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, it is not intended for an understanding of this invention to be limited by the fore going description nor by the illustrations in the annexed drawings, except as indicated in the hereinafter appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a hopper structure for a railway hopper car, the structure having an outlet opening and a door pivoted at its upper edge to the structure and positioned to close the opening; the combination therewith of a door locking mechanism comprising, a latch block keeper on the distal edge of the hopper door, a latch having first and second arms with a bearing portion therebetween, a first bearing mounted on the hopper structure, an actuator member rotatably journaled in said first bearing and having an eccentric, said latch being journaled on said eccentric by means of its bearing portion, said first latch arm having a surface facing toward said bearing portion and engageable with said keeper to hold the door in partly closed position when said first arm is in a first position, a counterweight on said second latch arm biasing said first arm toward the hopper stiucture and door keeper engaging position, said actuator member upon operation moving said latch to its said first position and to a second position whereat with said latch surface engaged with said door keeper the door is tightly closed, said actuator member including a lever arm projecting to a position spaced laterally of said latch and having a lateral lug thereon projecting over said latch and engageable with the surface of one of said latch arms to rotate said first arm away from the hopper structure to door release position, said lug being engageable with the surface of the other of said latch arms to rotate said latch to door locking position, said actuator member having an outwardly facing polygonal socket, a second hearing mounted on the hopper structure, a second actuator member journaled in said second bearing and having an inwardly facing polygonal socket, a rod bar having polygonal ends loosely received in said sockets for slight limited rotation therein relative to said members, and means on said second actuator member outwardly of said second bearing for rotating said members to actuate said latch.

2. in a hopper structure for a railway hopper car, the structure having an outlet opening and a door pivoted at its upper edge to the structure and positioned to close the opening; the combination therewith of a door locking mechanism comprising, a latch block keeper on the distal edge of the hopper door, a latch having first and second arms with a bearing portion therebetween, a first bearing mounted on the hopper structure, an actuator member rotatably journaled in said first bearing and having an eccentric within said latch bearing portion for rotatably and shiftably mounting said latch, said first latch arm being shaped for engagement with said door keeper to hold the door in partly closed position when said first arm is in a first position, a counterweight on said second latch arm biasing said first arm toward the hopper structure and door keeper engaging position, said actuator member upon operation moving said latch to its said first position and to a second position whereat with said first latch arm engaged with said door keeper the door is tightly closed, said actuator member including a lever arm projecting to a position spaced laterally of said latch and projecting over said latch and engageable with the surface of one of said latch arms to rotate said first arm away from the hopper structure to door release position, and being engageable with the surface of the other of said latch arms to rotate said latch to door locking position, a second bearing mounted on the hopper structure, a connector member journaled in said second bearing, and a rod bar interconnecting said actuator member and connector so that rotational movement of said connector is imparted to said actuator member to actuate said latch.

3. In a hopper structure for a railway hopper car, the structure having an outlet opening and a door pivoted at its upper edge to the structure and positioned to close the opening; the combination therewith of a door locking mechanism comprising, a latch block keeper on the distal edge of the hopper door, a latch having first and second arms with a bearing portion therebetween, a bearing mounted on the hopper structure, an actuator member rotatably journaled in said bearing and having an eccentric, said latch being journaled on said eccentric by means of its bearing portion, said first latch arm having a surface facing toward said bearing portion and engageable with said keeper to hold the door in partly closed position when said first arm is in a first position, a

counterweight on said second latch arm biasing said first arm toward the hopper structure and door keeper engaging position, said actuator member upon operation moving said latch to its said first position and to a second position whereat with said latch surface engaged with said door keeper the door is tightly closed, said actuator member including a lever arm projecting to a position spaced laterally of said latch and toward the hopper structure, a lateral lug on said lever arm projecting over said latch and engageable with the upper surface of said first arm to rotate it away from the hopper structure to door release position, said lug being engageable with the upper surface of said second arm to rotate said latch to door locking position, and means connected to said actuator member for rotating the latter.

4. In a hopper structure for a railway hopper car, the structure having an outlet opening and a door pivoted at its upper edge to the structure and positioned to close the opening; the combination therewith of a door looking mechanism comprising, first and second axially aligned and spaced beatings mounted on the structure, a handle connector rotatably mounted in said first bearing, an actuator rotatably mounted in said second bearing and having an eccentric, a latch journaled on said eccentric and having first and second arms extending away from said eccentric, said first latch arm being shaped to engage the distal edge of the door to hold it in partly and fully closed positions, said second arm having a counterweight thereon to bias said first arm toward the hopper structure and engagement with the door, a lever arm on said actuator spaced laterally of said latch and rotatable with said eccentric, said lever arm projecting over said latch and engageable upon rotation of said am with alternate ones of said latch arms, respectively, to lock and release the door, and means interconnecting said connector and said actuator for rotation in unison on a common axis.

5. In a hopper structure for a railway hopper car, the structure having an outlet opening and a door pivoted at its upper edge to the structure and positioned to close the opening; the combination therewith of a door locking mechanism comprising, first and second axially aligned and spaced bearings mounted on the structure, a handle connector rotatably mounted in said first bearing, an actuator rotatably mounted in said second bearing and having an eccentric, a latch journaled on said eccentric and having first and second arms extending away from said eccentric, said first latch arm being shaped to engage the distal edge of the door to hold it in partly and fully closed positions, said second arm having a counterweight thereon to bias said first arm toward the hopper structure and engagement with the door, a lever arm on said actuatcr spaced laterally of said latch and rotatable with said eccentric and projecting from said eccentric above said latch and toward the hopper structure, said lever arm having a lateral lug overlying said latch and engageable upon rotation of said am with said second and first latch arms, respectively, to lock and release the door, a polygonal socket formed on said connector on its axis of rotation, a polygonal socket formed on said actuator on its of rotation, said sockets having closed and open ends with their open ends faced toward each other, and a rod bar having polygonal ends loosely received in said sockets for slight limited rotation therein relative to said connector and to said actuator, whereby rotation of said connector is transmitted to said actuator to actuate said latch.

6. In a hopper structure for a railway hopper car, the structure having an outlet opening and a door pivoted at its upper edge to the structure and positioned to close the opening; the combination therewith of a door locking mechanism including, keeper means on the distal edge of the hopper door, a latch mounted on the hopper structure for reciprocating and pivotal movements and cooperable with said keeper means for latching the door in closed position and for releasing the door to fully open and partly open positions, a rotatable actuator for said latch and engageable with said latch upon rotational movement to reciprocate said latch in first and second directions to said closed and to said partly and fully opened positions, a rotatable handle connector, means mounted on the hopper structure mounting said actuator and said connector for rotation on a common aids, a polygonal socket formed on said actuator on its rotational axis, a polygonal socket formed on said connector on its rotational axis, said sockets having closed and open ends with the open ends faced toward each other, and a rod bar having polygonal ends loosely received in said sockets for slight limited rotation therein relative to said actuator and to said connector, thereby to transmit impact from said handle connector to said latch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 865,920 Lindstrom Sept. 10, 1907 1,244,698 Oherbonnier Oct. 30, 1917 1,434,177 Wine Oct. 31, 1922 1,685,079 Abel Sept. 25, 1928 1,729,370 Wine Sept. 24, 1929 2,482,516 Sheesley Sept. 20, 1949 2,638,062 Zimmer May 12, 1953 2,641,199 Dorey June 9, 1953 2,684,645 Shaver et al July 27, 1954 2,730,966 Dorey Jan. 17, 1956 2,810,355 Dath Oct. 22, 1957 2,862,460 Dorey Dec. 2, 1958 2,962,982 Wine Dec. 6, 1960 

1. IN A HOPPER STRUCTURE FOR A RAILWAY HOPPER CAR, THE STRUCTURE HAVING AN OUTLET OPENING AND A DOOR PIVOTED AT ITS UPPER EDGE TO THE STRUCTURE AND POSITIONED TO CLOSE THE OPENING; THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM COMPRISING, A LATCH BLOCK KEEPER ON THE DISTAL EDGE OF THE HOPPER DOOR, A LATCH HAVING FIRST AND SECOND ARMS WITH A BEARING PORTION THEREBETWEEN, A FIRST BEARING MOUNTED ON THE HOPPER STRUCTURE, AN ACTUATOR MEMBER ROTATABLY JOURNALED IN SAID FIRST BEARING AND HAVING AN ECCENTRIC, SAID LATCH BEING JOURNALED ON SAID ECCENTRIC BY MEANS OF ITS BEARING PORTION, SAID FIRST LATCH ARM HAVING A SURFACE FACING TOWARD SAID BEARING PORTION AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID KEEPER TO HOLD THE DOOR IN PARTLY CLOSED POSITION WHEN SAID FIRST ARM IS IN A FIRST POSITION, A COUNTERWEIGHT ON SAID SECOND LATCH ARM BIASING SAID FIRST ARM TOWARD THE HOPPER STRUCTURE AND DOOR KEEPER ENGAGING POSITION, SAID ACTUATOR MEMBER UPON OPERATION MOVING SAID LATCH TO ITS SAID FIRST POSITION AND TO A SECOND POSITION WHEREAT WITH SAID LATCH SURFACE ENGAGED WITH SAID DOOR KEEPER THE DOOR IS TIGHTLY CLOSED, SAID ACTUATOR MEMBER INCLUDING A LEVER ARM PROJECTING TO A POSITION SPACED LATERALLY OF SAID LATCH AND HAVING A LATERAL LUG THEREON PROJECTING OVER SAID LATCH AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID LATCH ARMS TO ROTATE SAID FIRST ARM AWAY FROM THE HOPPER STRUCTURE TO DOOR RELEASE POSITION, SAID LUG BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SURFACE OF THE OTHER OF SAID LATCH ARMS TO ROTATE SAID LATCH TO DOOR LOCKING POSITION, SAID ACTUATOR MEMBER HAVING AN OUTWARDLY FACING POLYGONAL SOCKET, A SECOND BEARING MOUNTED ON THE HOPPER STRUCTURE, A SECOND ACTUATOR MEMBER JOURNALED IN SAID SECOND BEARING AND HAVING AN INWARDLY FACING POLYGONAL SOCKET, A ROD BAR HAVING POLYGONAL ENDS LOOSELY RECEIVED IN SAID SOCKETS FOR SLIGHT LIMITED ROTATION THEREIN RELATIVE TO SAID MEMBERS, AND MEANS ON SAID SECOND ACTUATOR MEMBER OUTWARDLY OF SAID SECOND BEARING FOR ROTATING SAID MEMBERS TO ACTUATE SAID LATCH. 